24 OCTOBER 1874, Page 1

Mr, Goschen a.ddrefuzed the Liberals of Bath on Thursday, in

a long, but not very exciting speeoh. He said the Tory Govern- ment had plenty of work cut out for them next Session in Sanitary Bills, Judicature Bills, Land Transfer Bills, and Bills on Local Taxation, and he hoped on such measures the Liberals would assist them, that is, provided the highest authorities should digest and understand their own Bills, — a fair hit at Mr. Disraeli and his Endawed Schools' Bill. The Liberal party would object, with all its might, to the introduction of any measure restoring Army Purchase in any form or degree —even, as we understand, the purchase of exchanges—and would resist it successfully. The Tories might also deal with the Uni- versities on the Report of the Commission on University Finance, but somehow they dislike reforming Universities. It was difficult

to foresee what original thing the Government could attempt ; but they should not forget the speech made by the Premier at Glasgow, when he said, "Do not mumble the dry- bones of Liberal political economy." Liberal political economy was the best defence we had against Communists, and far less subversive than Conservative administration would be without it. Perhaps the beat thing Mr. Goschen said was that he went to Bath because he had promised to go there, but he could not help longing for the interesting topics the next two months " would " supply. The power of prophecy just now would be worth anything to statesmen, as to editors.